Loyola Ave. streetcar construction continues

New Orleans Monday adjusted its road closures as it continues advancing its 1.5-mile, $45 million streetcar extension along Loyola Avenue.

Portions of Loyola Avenue between Howard Avenue and Tulane Avenue have been shut down for months. But for the next two months, Canal Street-bound traffic along Elk Place will be detoured to O'Keefe Avenue. The river side of Loyola between Gravier Street and Tulane will be open for local traffic only.

Regional Transit Authority officials say detours and streetc closings allow replacement and other repairs to a major water line and other subsurface utilities, as well as implementation of streetcar tracks and infrastructure.

RTA was awarded federal funding to extend streetcar service along Loyola Avenue from Union Passenger Terminal to Canal Street. The new route will use surplus streetcars from the Canal Street and Riverfront lines.